Suspected robbers appear in court

MILFORD  Two Bridgeport men arrested in connection with a litany of armed robberies across numerous towns appeared separately in Superior Court Wednesday, one to see his bail reduced and the other to be arraigned on new charges.

Neal Jones

Published
12:00 am EST, Thursday, November 13, 2003

Xavier Diaz, 18, of 198 Lewis St., is charged with first-degree robbery, fourth-degree larceny and conspiracy, among other charges.

Diaz was arrested by Milford police in early October for his alleged role in the armed robbery of the Shell Food Mart on Woodmont Road.

On Wednesday, Diaz, who is also facing a first-degree robbery charge in Bridgeport, saw his $250,000 bail reduced to $100,000. He is also being held in lieu of $100,000 bail for the Bridgeport robbery.

States Attorney Mary Galvin and Public Defender David Egan agreed to the reduction.

Also Wednesday, Miguel Martinez, also known as Jose Garcia-Martinez, 25, of 406 Dover St., was arraigned on new charges for his alleged role in the Sept. 21 robbery of the Shell Food Mart on 444 Sawmill Road in West Haven.

Martinez was already in custody after being arrested by Stratford police in October for his alleged role in the armed robbery of a Dunkin Donuts.

On Wednesday he entered innocent pleas on charges of conspiracy to commit first-degree robbery and conspiracy to commit fourth-degree larceny for allegedly driving the getaway car in the West Haven robbery.

Martinez is also wanted by authorities in Puerto Rico in connection with an attempted homicide, police said. Martinez would face extradition when the Connecticut cases are over.

Two other Bridgeport men, Juan Soto, 20, of 227 Coleman St., and Juan Garcia 22, of 326 Wood Ave., brother of Martinez, have also been arrested in connection with the armed robberies, police said.

Collectively, the four men are suspects in up to 12 armed robberies across Greater New Haven at various Dunkin Donuts shops, gas stations, Subway sandwich shops and motels.

Police from Stratford, Bridgeport, Milford, Fairfield, West Haven, New Haven, Ansonia and Norwalk are working on the cases.